Reds outfield struggles could turn two fan favorites into major concerns

It's been a miserable start to the season for the Cincinnati Reds outfield duo of TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer. Obviously six games is far too small of a sample size to make any definitive judgments about any player's performance — good or bad — but the concerns for Friedl and Steer go well beyond the batter's box.

Friedl and Steer are a combined 3-for-45 heading into Friday's series opener against the Texas Rangers. Throw in Will Benson (2-for-11) and Noelvi Marte (0-for-8), and the Reds' four most prominent outfielders are hitting combined .078 through the first week of the 2026 season.

But most fans assume that the bats will eventually come around. The same cannot be said for the overall outfield defense, however, which was highly questionable through the first week of the season.

TJ Friedl & Spencer Steer create questions in the Reds' outfield

Friedl has started all six games for the Reds this season, with five games in center field and one left. Steer has started five games with one at first base, and four in left field. Steer is taking on super utility role in 2026 and has also seen time in right field and third base.

Friedl has never been an elite defender in center field, but his numbers from last year reflected a tremendous decline in his defensive capabilities. He was worth -10 defensive runs saved (DRS) and 1 out above average (OAA). Already this season, Friedl is worth -2 DRS and -1 OAA in center field.

Friedl has lost step. In 2023, his sprint speed was 28.3 feet per second. That number dropped to 26.5 ft/ sec. in 2024 and is sitting at just 26.4 ft/ sec. this season. His arm strength is also among the worst in the game, and if you don't believe the numbers, just look at his throw to home plate during the ninth inning of Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As for Steer, Reds fans know him a Gold Glove-caliber defender at first base. But rookie sensation Sal Stewart has all but supplanted him at the cold corner this season — though Steer has logged innings at first base as a defensive replacement.

Steer spent most of the 2025 season at first base and was worth 8 DRS and 6 OAA. But in 2024, the majority of his time was spent in left field where he recorded -4 DRS and -3 OAA. Right field is still a work in progress for the 28-year-old as he has just 25 innings under his belt at the position.

During Wednesday's game against the Pirates, a ball was laced in right field and Steer took a bad angle on the play. The ball flew over his head, and what should've been a routine fly ball out turned into a stand-up double.

Reds fans don't want to hear this — both Friedl and Steer are beloved players on the team — but the facts are the facts. Friedl (left field) and Steer (right field) are adjusting to new positions, so the Cincinnati faithful will undoubtedly be willing to offer both players a lot of grace. But if we're still talking about bad defensive reads, misjudging balls off the bat, and missing the cut-off man in June, a deeper discussion will need to be had.